Therapeutic safety swing



Aug. 18, .1959 R. ,1. OLIVER THERAPEUTIC SAFETY SWING Filed Aug. 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .0 1 INVENTOR. RAYMOND J. OLIVER Aug. 18, 1959 OLIVER 2,900,010

THERAPEUTIC SAFETY SWING Filed Aug. 15, 1955 r r 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \OOMOQQQOLQQJQJO INVENTOR. RAVMONQ J. OLIVER A 7' TORNEVS United States Patent M THERAPEUTIC SAFETY SWING Raymond J. Oliver, San Jose, Calif. Application August 15, 1955, Serial No. 528,341

I 3 Claims. Cl. 155-65) The present invention relates to a swing, and'pertains more particularly to a safety swing which may be used either as a childs toy or as a therapeutic device for use by people who are unable to participate in ordinary forms of exercise.

In cases of partially paralyzed people, particularly young people, it frequently is desirable and helpful to have the patient engage in some form of mild exercise. However, due to their paralyzed condition, it is almost impossible for such people by themselves to engage in even the mildest forms of exercise, since they frequently do not have sufficient strength or coordination to be able to move their own bodies about. Therefore, it usually is necessary for such a person to be assisted by an attendant or nurse in order to enjoy the benefits of even the mildest form of exercise. Y

The present invention provides a swing in which a partially paralyzed person may be safely supported, and

in which such person may indulge in mild and enjoyable exercise of his limbs as well as his torso.

- The invention also provides an improved, multiple suspension, lever actuated safety swing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a swing for supporting a person with impaired physical functions so that such person may exercise on the swingwithout danger of physical injury.

A further object of the invention is to provide a swing which is adjustable to fit persons of different sizes, and to provide variations in operating leverages.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a swing embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the swing shown in Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view from the under side of the swing shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Briefly, a swing A embodying the present invention comprises a frame B composed of a top frame member 10, a bottom frame member 10', an upright front frame member 11 and an upright rear frame member 12. The frame members are hingedly connected together 'at the corners 'of the frame to form a parallelogram which is fully adjustable as to size.

"The frame B is suspended by three cables 13a, 13b and 130. Two of the cables 13a and 13b are adjustably connected to'a suspension bar 14 on the upright front frame member 11, and the other cable 130 is connected to the upper end of the upright rear frame member 12. A seat 18 and foot plate 19 are both adjustably mounted on the frame B, and an adjustable handle bar extension 20 forms the upper part of the upright front frame member 11.

A pair of stirrups 21 are provided to connect the feet of'a rider, not shown, to a pedal bar 22 mounted on the lower portion of the front upright frame member 11.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the top 2,900,010 Patented Aug. 18, 1 959 frame member 10 is of composite,'three-piece construction, having a single forward portion 23, and a pair of laterally separated rear portions 24 and 25 secured one to each side of the forward portion 23 by bolts 27 and 28.

A plurality of holes 29 are provided in the forward end of the rear frame portions 24 and 25 to receive the two bolts 27 and 28 in each of a plurality of longitudinally adjusted positions of the forward frame portion 23 and the two rear frame portions 24 and 25. Thus, the composite top frame member 10 may be lengthened or shortened as desired.

The bucket-type seat 18 has a guide strip 30 mounted edgewise centrally therebeneath. The guide strip 30 is of a width from top to bottom slightly less than the corresponding width of the two rear frame portions 24 and 25 of the composite top frame member 10, and is of a thickness corresponding substantially to that of the forward top frame portion 23 so as to be insertable between the rear frame portions 24 and 25.

A hook bolt 32 is of a diameter to pass through a hole 33 provided thereforthrough the guide strip 30. The hook shaped upper end portion 34 of the bolt 32 is formed to receive the central portion of a thigh strap 35 closely therebeneath. A clamp plate 37 has a hole 38 therein to receive the lower end of the bolt 32, the clamp plate being of a width to span the lower edges of the rear frame portions 24 and 25. A nut 39 is screwed onto the threaded lower end of the hook bolt 32 to force the clamp plate 37 upwardly into clamping engagement with the rear frame portions 24 and 25, and simultaneously to draw the hook portion 34 downwardly into anchoring engagement with the thigh strap 35.

The thigh strap 35 is provided with a pair of pads 40 one on each side of the hook bolt 32 to overlie the thighs of a person (not shown) seated in the seat 18. A buckle 41 is provided on each outer end of the thigh strap 35 for adjusted engagement by a pair of straps 42 secured one to each side of the bucket seat 18.

The composite upright front frame member 11 comprises a pair of lower portions 44 and 45 mounted one on each side of the forward top frame portion 23. These front frame portions 44 and 45 are hingedly connected to the forward top frame portion 23 by a bolt 47, inserted in selected holes 43 and 43 of aplurality thereof provided in the front frame portion 23 and in the upright front frame portions 44 and 45, respectively. By Chang: ing the bolt 47 from one set of holes 43 and 48 to another, the effective length of the top frame member .10 and of the front frame member 11 may be varied to suit the requirements of patients or riders of different sizes and muscular ability. I

' The handle bar extension 20 is interposed between the upper ends of the front frameportions 44 and 45, and a handle bar 49 is inserted transversely through a hole provided therefor in the upper end of the extension 2t}, A plurality of registering holes 50 are provided in the upright front frame portions 44 and 45 and also, at 51, in the handle bar extension 20 to receive a bolt52 and' the transversely extending suspension bar 14 with the handle bar extension 20 in each of a plurality of longi tudinally adjusted positions relative to the front frame; portions 44 and 45. A positioning pin 46 is inserted in a hole 46a (Fig. 3) provided therefor in the front frame portion 45 and in a hole 46b in the suspension bar 14 to keep the latter of the swing.

Eye-bolts 53 are mounted suspension bar 14. Each eye-bolt 53 is threaded through'- out substantially its entire length, and is secured to the suspension-bar 14 by nuts 54 and 55 which may be; 3 screwed to desired adjusted position lengthwise offthe from turning during operation in axially upright condition in holes 55 provided therefor .one near each end of the eye bolt. A locknut 57 is provided beneath each nut 55 on the lower side of the suspension bar to prevent accidental dislodgement of the lower nuts 54.

The one-piece upright rear frame member 12 is inter- ,posed near its upper end between the rear upper frame portions 24 and 25 of the upper frame member 10, and is hingedly connected thereto by a bolt 58. A plurality of holes 59 are provided in the rear ends of the top frame portions 24 and 25 to align selectively with holes 60 in the upright rear frame member 12 to permit adjustment therebetween by selective positioning of the'bolt '58 therein in the same manner as described previously herein for the upper front frame bolt 47.

A metal cap plate 63 is secured on the upper end of the upright rear frame member 12 by screws-64, and has a threaded hole therein threadedly to receive an eye-bolt 67 generally similar to the eye-bolts 53 on the suspension bar14. A hole 68 is provided in the upright rear frame member 12 in axial alignment with the threaded hole 65 inthe cap plate 63 to receive the shank 67a of the eyebolt 67 freely when the latter is screwed to axially adjusted position in the cap plate 63. A locknut 69 is provided on the eye-bolt 67 to seat on the cap plate 63 to secure the eye-bolt in axially adjusted position. To increase lateral stability of the swing, a rear suspension bar 58' (broken lines, Fig. 1) may be substituted for the bolt 58, and cables13d and 132 are then attached to eye-bolts 67b at the ends of this rear suspension bar similarly to the cables 13a and 13b on the front suspension bar 14.

The lower frame member may be identical to the upper frame member 10 and therefore need not be described in detail. The portions of the lower frame 10 corresponding to similar portions of the upper frame member 10 are given reference numerals identical to those of the upper frame members with the prime added thereto. 7

The lower frame member 10' is hingedly connected by bolts 70 and 71 in selectively adjusted position to the front and rear frame members 11 and 12 respectively in the same manner as that described previously herein for the hinged connection of the upper frame member 10 to these same members 11 and '12.

The foot plate 19 is of a length to fit between the front and rear upright frame members 11 and 12 and still pernut free relative hinged movement of the frame members. An edge-mounted guide strip 73 is mounted centrally beneath the plate 19. The foot plate is secured in longitudinally adjusted position on the lower frame member 10' by a bolt 74, clamp plate 75 and nut 77 in a manner similar to that described for securing the bucket seat 18 to the upper frame member 10. V

The pedal bar 22 is inserted in a selected pair of a plu rality of holes 78 provided therefor in the upright front frame portions 44 and 45. The stirrups' 21are mounted one near each outer end of the pedal bar. ,Each stirrup 21 is mounted tangentially of a bearing portion 80 which is journaled on the pedal bar 22. Each stirrup is provided with a tote strap 81 and a heel socket 82. A heel strap 83 is inserted in slotted openings provided therefor one within each side of the heel socket to strap over the arch of a patients foot positioned in the stirrup.

By changing the adjustedpositions of the pivot bolts 47, 58, 70 and 71 in the various holes'provided therefor as explained previously herein to adjust the, size of the parallelogram defined by the frame members 10, 10, 11 and 12; and by adjusting 'the position of the bucket seat 18 and the foot plate 19, the swing may be easily adjusted, to a wide variety of sizes to accommodate persons of dif-' ofthepresent invention may be used for persons of wide 4 variety of sizes, and may be used either for physical therapy treatment or merely as a play device for children.

Selective use of the foot plate 19 and the pedal bar 22 adapts the device for use by spastics and polio sufferers as well as by victims of cerebral palsy and other crippling diseases, as well as accidents.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood however, that various changes and modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, What Ijclaim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A swing comprising a frame in the form of a parallelogram, said frame comprising an upright front frame member, a handle bar extension adjustably secured'to the upper end of the front frame member, a suspension bar extending transversely of the upper portion of the front frame member, a top frame member comprising a single forward portion pivotally connected at its forward end "in adjusted relation to the upright front frame member,

a pair of top frame rear portions mounted one on each side of the top frame forward portion and extending rear wardly therebeyond, an upright rear frame member pivotally connected in adjusted relation between the rear ends of the top frame rear portions; a bottom frame member similar to the top frame member pivotally connected at its forward end to theupright front framernember and at its rear end to the upright rear frame member withthe front and rear frame members parallel to each other and with the top and bottom frame members parallel to each other, a seat mounted on the top frame member, a guide strip mounted on said seat and interposed between the rear portions of the 'top frame member thereby guiding the seat for fore-and-aft movement on the top frame member, clamp means securing the seat in longitudinally 'adjusted position on the top frame member, a foot plate mounted on the bottom frame member, a guide strip on said foot plate in guided relation to the bottom frame member, a pair of suspension cables attached one to each end of the suspension bar, and suspension means attached to the upper rear portion of the frame;

2. A swing comprising four frame members arranged in the form of an upright parallelogram with the top and bottom frame members substantially; horizontal; pivot means hingedly interconnecting the frame membersat each corner of the parallelogram for relative fore-and-a-ft tilting movement, a handle bar extension adjustably 'secured to the upper end of the front frame member; a handle bar mounted transversely of the upper end ofls'aid extension, a suspension bar extending transversely of the upper portion of the front frame member, the front frame member comprising a pair of frame portions in parallel spaced relation, the top frame member comprising asingle forward portion inserted between the spaced portions of the front frame member, and a pair of top frame rear portions mounted one on eachside of the top frame'for ward portion and extending rearwardly therebeyondin parallel spaced relation, the rear frame member being'im serted therebetween, a bottom frame member similar td thetop frame member itsforward I1dbll1gi118ft8d between the spaced portions of the-upright front frame member and its rear portions receivingthe upright-"rear movement on the-top frame member, clamp meaiis'seeue ing the seat in longitudinally adjusted position on tap frame member, a pair of suspension cables secured one to each end of the suspension banand a third suspension cable secured to the upper end of the rear'framenieinber; 3. A swing comprising four frame members'afranged in the form of an upright parallelogram with the top and bottom frame members substantially horizontal, each member having a plurality of axially aligned holes therethrough adjacent each end thereof, a pivot pin inserted in selected holes of the frame members at their intersections, thereby hingedly interconnecting the frame members at each corner of the parallelogram for relative foreand-aft tilting movement, thereby providing adjustment of the size of the parallelogram defined by said frame members, a handle bar extension adjustably secured to the upper end of the front frame member, a handle bar mounted transversely of the upper end of said extension, a suspension bar extending transversely of the upper portion of the front frame member, the front frame member comprising a pair of frame portions in parallel spaced relation, the top frame member comprising a single forward portion inserted between the spaced portions of the front frame member, and a pair of top frame rear portions mounted one on each side of the top frame forward portion and extending rearwardly therebeyond in parallel spaced relation, the rear frame member being inserted therebetween, a bottom frame member similar to the top frame member its forward end being inserted between the spaced portions of the upright front frame member and its rear portions receiving the upright rear frame member therebetween, a seat mounted on the top frame member, a guide strip mounted on said seat and interposed between the spaced rear portions of the top frame member thereby guiding the seat for fore-and-aft movement on the top frame member, clamp means securing the seat in longitudinally adjusted position on the top frame member, a pair of suspension cables secured one to each end of the suspension bar, and a third suspension cable secured to the upper end of the rear frame member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 162,693 St. Louis Mar. 27, 1951 109,165 Winston Nov. 8, 1870 1,825,457 Hoffman Sept. 29, 1931 1,866,047 Lucas July 5, 1932 2,092,993 Tinker Sept. 14, 1937 2,123,233 Crawford July 12, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 103,036 Australia Jan. 21, 1938 

